Another year, another festival season. Can’t you just feel it in the air?

It all started a few months ago…we saw those pink posters pasted upon the walls, the guide began to hit the doorsteps of our favourite city establishments, the box office took up residence in Rundle Mall and most exciting of all, the fence was erected around the fairylit wonderland which is the Garden of Unearthly Delights

A couple of weeks ago I received a phone call from a particularly charming Englishman I know. He spoke quickly and fabulously and told me about an event coming up at Penny’s Hill Winery for the Melbourne Cup.

As the Royal Adelaide Show comes to an end for another year and I listened to the fireworks from my balcony, I sat and reminisced about the rite of passage we should all experience as Adelaidians.

I must admit, I didn’t actually go to the show this year (because I have a mortgage), but I think some things never change, and there are some pretty universal experiences we all go through during those ten magical days in September.

What’s better than good wine? Wine made by passionate people with strong environmental and moral ethics. Meet Michael and Alisa Hart of Hart of the Barossa, the oldest certified organic vineyard in the Barossa Valley.

One of the highlights whilst gallivanting through the Barossa Gourmet Weekend was an up close and personal wine tasting experience with the Hart’s for their event – Shiraz Flights with Barossa Bites.

OK, so I was pretty boozy the first time I went to Ancient World. A friend had told me about this magical underground wonderland of cheap beers and rad music, tucked down an alleyway behind Hindley Street.

I’ll be honest, I can’t remember the last time I was awake before sunrise. Ordinarily, I couldn’t think of anything worse, but today was different. I woke up with the feelings reminiscent of a kid on Christmas day, but instead of the anticipation of that Barbie camper trailer I’d been dreaming of, I awoke with thoughts that within a couple of hours I’d be eating breakfast by an open wood fire in the Barossa Valley.

This weekend the Barossa Valley region will once again come alive to celebrate all things in good food, wine and music at the Barossa Gourmet Weekend. What makes this years event even more special? It’s celebrating it’s 30th year.